I'm Still Smart

How Alzheimer's Took My Mom

By: Mr. Michael Lowry

Narrated by: E.L. Beckett

Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

What the mind cannot remember, the heart never forgets. There is one thing Alzheimer's cannot take away, and that is love. Love is not a memory; it is an eternal feeling existing deep within your heart and soul.

This audiobook details the difficulties and challenges one family experienced over a five-year time frame, written from the personal perspective of Mike Lowry, son of and full-time caregiver for his mother, Sharon Lowry, who courageously battled Alzheimer's disease for years before passing in December of 2016.

Within the audiobook, Mike details the systematic, incremental impact Alzheimer's disease had on his mother, from the initial stages and emergence of the condition, to the inexorable regression his mom experienced, and eventually to the final phases of the disease before his mom passed away. In addition, Mike discusses the daily struggles, obstacles, and decisions he made with respect to his mother's care, her eventual transition into a memory-care facility, and how he handled the array of substantial problems he encountered throughout the years-long battle he and his mom faced when confronting Alzheimer's disease.

At its core level, I'm Still Smart details a mother's love for her family and a son's dedication to his mother when he provided full-time care for her as she endured the painful, long-lasting, residual effects of Alzheimer's disease. From a practical standpoint, Sharon and Mike's story demonstrates the unavoidable cycle of life, clearly illustrated for you through the role reversal adults realize as they ultimately provide full-time care and assistance for their parents.

This is a truly unique, emotional, personal, and must-hear Alzheimer's story Mike wishes to share with all individuals, families, and caregivers who have ever been impacted by the disease.

©2017 Mike Lowry (P)2018 Mike Lowry

Feeling a little more prepared

I got this book because my mother was recently diagnosed with dementia, most likely caused by Alzheimer's disease. I was hoping this book would give me some insight into what to expect and perhaps what I should be doing to prepare as my mother's functionality and cognitive abilities get progressively worse. Although I'm sympathetic to what the author went through during each stage of regression and finally after his mom's passing, I was often distracted by how highly the author thinks of himself (we even get lessons in history and religion along the way), and the constant use of multiple adjectives and exaggerated phrases to describe every single little thing does wear thin on the reader. The author often says the same thing in a slightly different manner 4 or 5 times in just as many consecutive sentences. Thankfully the narrator (E. L. Beckett) did a great job, but you sometimes lose sense of the (at times, very personal) mother-son dynamic because of the female narrator. However, I do appreciate his sharing his (and his mom's) story, and I did gain some good insight and knowledge along the way. It's definitely going to be a rough journey, but now I feel a little more prepared for what to expect.

Thank you for taking us on this journey with you!!

I am preparing for this to happen. I know it is inevitable. Thank you so much for giving me a glimpse of your compassion, struggles, and unquestioned love. The narrator has an amazing sincerity in her voice. If you find yourself in the position to need perspective with this struggle, you need to own this...